El Reno residents have until 5 p.m. Sunday to dump tree limbs at no charge at the Lake El Reno collection site.

Mayor Matt White made the announcement at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

Contractors hired by the city to collect limbs in neighborhoods throughout town will continue to do so through Nov. 22. White said once all neighborhoods have been canvassed, the contractors will make another final sweep through town to gather any limbs that weren't placed near the street in the earlier collection.

The city wants to have the limb collection finalized so it can tabulate all expenses and submit the cost of the ice storm cleanup for what would hopefully be reimbursement from FEMA.

White said he has spoken with Gov. Kevin Stitt and is hopeful the state will declare an emergency related to the late October storm that hit much of central Oklahoma. The city and Canadian County have already declared the event an emergency. For federal reimbursement, the state must also make such a declaration.

El Reno’s finances are stretched to a critical point, White said. City Clerk Marsha Leck said sales tax collections in the most recent report came in at just over $700,000. That’s the amount budgeted and it's well below what the municipal government had been collecting prior to the arrival of COVID-19. The ice storm only added to the fiscal pain.

City Councilwoman Tracey Rider asked residents, if at all possible, to take the limbs to the Lake El Reno site. She said this would help the city save money by not having to pay the contractors to do it.

White estimated the cost of the storm to be in the millions. He praised city workers for their efforts during the emergency. Many will be owed substantial overtime pay for working almost around the clock.

Assistant City Manager Kent Lagaly said formulating the expenses for the ice storm will be “much easier” than what is required for possible reimbursement following a tornado.